A common thread running through the story of a woman politician’s rise anywhere in the world is the barrage of personal attacks she faces early on in her career – insults and putdowns of the kind a male politician would never face. Why is succeeding in politics more difficult for women than men?
My heart melts for Mayawati who has been assaulted by whipping words. Everyone should be firm that attacks on women politicians should be brought to an end. I too have had such experiences J Jayalalithaa, in a statement
Personal attacks
As a woman leader sets out on her journey in politics, the first barbs are always personal, particularly about her attire, her relationships, her sexuality, in fact, anything but her politics. It’s a tactic of intimidation, to cope with which most women politicians tend to deglamourise themselves
For example, Opposition party members in Australia held signs that read “Ditch the witch” while protesting against former prime minister Julia Gillard. One of her opponents even described her as “barren” because Gillard did not have children
When Jayalalithaa was appointed the propaganda secretary of AIADMK, she consciously de-glamourised her appearance, says journalist Vaasanthi in her book Amma
Rising against odds
Violence against women in politics is intended to punish them for their temerity to leave the private sphere, writes Swarna Rajagopalan of the NGO Prajnya. If it is tougher for women, how did a few succeed? In the process of overcoming the handicaps, they become more tough-willed and go down in history as powerful leaders